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>> and now, "bbc world news america." >> this is "bbc world news america." reporting from washington, i am katty kay. women and children shot at close range in syria, as western powers get more details of the massacre in houla. they were expelling syrian diplomats. >> international pressure on the regime. this is oppression. >> he will be the republican to take on barack obama. tonight, we chart mitt romney's journey on the long campaign trail. and why bother with two wheels when one is just fine? we go into the crazy world of extreme unicycling.

welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and also around the world. 10 western nations today took the coordinated step of expelling syrian diplomats. the unusual move came in response to more gruesome revelations about the syrian government's massacre of women and children in houla yesterday. the killings are called a tipping point, but there is little indication as to what comes next. we start our coverage tonight. >> syrian shelling of heavily populated areas of houla was only part of the killing of civilians that is such an outrage. the u.n. says that the victims, including many children, were murdered inside their homes. others told assad and his militia responsible.

kofi annan is saying they should stop the killing and to his peace plan. their heavy weapons in the area. >> this year and people -- assyrian people do not want their future to be one of bloodshed -- the syrian people. the abuses are still with us today. >> international anger has resulted in the expulsion of syrian diplomats are run the world. this was the syrian ambassador in france. germany and britain are among those also ordering syrian officials home. in london, they have been given seven days to leave. it is part of concerted worldwide and expulsions -- worldwide expulsions that president assad needs to get

behind the peace plan of kofi annan. >> pressure. >> the trouble is, neither the syrian opposition nor the assad regime want to talk. this carries big risks. syria has sophisticated russian- made air defenses. on like libya, the opposition in syria is deeply divided -- unlike libya, the opposition in syria is deeply divided. so the massacre in houla may not mark a turning point. their survival depends on overwhelming force, not on dialogue. bbc news. >> let's get more on the diplomatic moves to isolate the passarella shot -- to isolate the passarella shot -- the assad

regime. it looks like a little more than a slap on the wrist. >> it was a political statement. it was a way of saying to the regime that we reject your political representatives and that you have clearly crossed a moral line in conducting your horrible atrocities. >> it looks like more than 30 children were executed at point blank range? and all the international community can do is expelling diplomats? >> you are right, this is frustrating war, and more remains to be done. -- this is frustrating work, and more remains to be done. we need to bring this to bear on assad and his cronies. they need to look around and see that they are on the wrong side of history. this is taking a long time.

>> so far, the mix of political and economic pressure does not seem to have changed things, on the ground in syria, and, indeed, things on the ground are getting worse in syria. >> this provides somewhat of a positive impact on the ground, but you're absolutely right in that the assad regime has failed to comply with any of the six aspects of this plan. >> what can the u.s. do to try to change the situation in syria is, as the white house said today, it is not time for military intervention? >> we still believe there is time for a diplomatic solution, but we never take options off of the table. secretary clinton said very clearly that we are going to assess the plan. we are going to make a judgment based on that, and if need be,

we will go back to the u.n. security council. >> how much more time do you need? this has been going on for more than one year now. >> kofi annan is going to address them in new york, and we will await the outcome and consult with our partners on the security council on the next steps. >> ok, joining us from the state department, thank you very much. well, what next then? for syria and the kofi annan peace plan? you're listening to one from the state department, clear frustration, but also, not much of a plan coming out of washington. >> know. i think they are facing a situation where washington does not intend to do much in terms of an intervention, because of the presidential campaign. because the mood in the country does not support that. you also have the russian and

chinese position, which are not supportive of any sort of u.n.- led campaign to do that, but you also have a legal position in syria that has also not come up with a clear plan. this is all going to what we see today, a combination of the prolonging of the problem, more political and economic sanctions, but nothing in the way of changing things in a major way on the ground. >> it does not sound like the timetable of doing anything different is imminent. we have kofi annan today saying we are at a tipping point. what kind of tipping point? what happens after this sort of tipping point? >> kofi annan had a six-point plan, which so far has not been implemented by the syrian regime. any political process, in other words, a process -- it is not one that they are interested in.

i am afraid that we are going to see more of this. in the short term, there are indications that the russians and americans are more willing to work with each other for different reasons and that we might seem -- might see, this is happening at a very early stage, but that we might see some cooperation that was not before. we saw some of this yesterday when the u.s. secretary issued a statement condemning the matter in houla. the russians and chinese supported it for the first time. >> all right, what about the arabs in this? the saudis are giving some support if not arms to the rebels. the jordanian government says they want more of a diplomatic solution. is there a coordinated arab voice that could put pressure on assad? >> i think most arab states

understand that this regime has little chance of surviving and being accepted in the region. they do differ about how to go about affecting the ouster of mr. assad. saudi and qatar are in support, but most of the other arab states are not, so i do not think we can expect sort of an arab league decision in that direction. >> ok, clearly, a lot of frustration from around the world. >> this is going to take some time, i am afraid. >> from washington, thank you very much for coming in. if the question about what to do about syria is becoming a question in the american presidential campaign, with the republican candidate, mitt romney, accusing president obama of being too timid.

he should reach the winning number of delegates after today's primary vote in texas. our north american editor has been charting his progress. >> here we go. right over here. >> mitt romney has not been handed this job on a plate. it has been a long, grueling fight since last summer, for the right to fight president obama for the white house. they are neck and neck in the polls. >> he is out of excuses, and in november, we will make sure to vote him out of office. [cheers and applause] >> politics is in his blood. his father began governor. he was a missionary. he later became a billionaire who made billions and private equity firms, including bain capital. he was a governor of massachusetts and made a play for the presidency four years ago. this time, the democratic line

against him is clear. mitt romney is over-privileged and out of touch. >> i was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. >> there are states like pennsylvania, vital to election chances. the heartland has been hit hard by on in point. -- hit hard by an implant. -- by unemployment. >> that is exactly what we are against. he is that 1%. >> the kind of guy you would go for a drink with? >> i do not see a lot of similarities between him and i. >> of course, as a mormon, he does not drink any alcohol, but it is the image that is the problem. >> i do not see him as a beer drinker.

>> but these are the persuade a book, workers coming out of this plant, which is on the work -- but these are the purse wadable -- persuadable, workers coming out of this plant, which is scheduled to close. >> he says a few things that i have to wonder about. when i go and put my x down on the ballot, i will be waiting all of that. >> -- i will be weighing all of that. >> he is not merely conservative enough for my taste. he probably will be better than obama, but, really, for me, no. >> mitt romney will have to work hard to win states like this. the opinion polls are closed. the chance to become america's

next president. bbc news, pennsylvania. >> it is shaping up to be a very tight election contest. around the world, former friends of anders behring breivik allegedly had surgery to change his face. his friends said he thought it was a vanity issue, contrary to his claims that he did after being punched. and trying to reassure those worried about the growing power of the islamists. the muslim brotherhood candidate said he would include a wide range of political forces in his government if he wins and promised representation for women. the burmese opposition leader aung san suu kyi has left burma for the first time in 24 years, on a visit to neighboring thailand. she will be taking a longer trip to europe next month. she refused to leave burma until

now because of fears the government would not let her return. authorities in ukraine have described allegations of racism highlighted in a bbc program as "invented." there was secret filming of fans giving nazi salutes and taunting black players with monkey chance. for -- with monkey chants. many are missing trapped under some rubble. we have this report from the region. >> that moment of realization as yet another earthquake strikes. the last earthquake just nine days ago has brought them from their homes. across this region, buildings already battered were struck again.

damage heaped on damage. there were fears that when the warehouse came crashing down, people were trapped in the rubble. others had narrow escapes. >> i was inside, he says. thankfully, the roof stayed up, but it was terrible. people are just beginning their routine of their day -- were just beginning their routine of the day when the earthquake struck. >> there was a huge bang. i was shaving, but they ran out quickly -- i ran out quickly. i was not completely dressed. i wanted to see what shape it was in. >> they are well aware how badly traumatized people were by the first earthquake. some had only just found the courage to venture back to their homes.

prime minister mario monti has promised to do all that he can to help this twice-stricken region. >> i would like to assure everyone that the italian state will do everything we must do and is possible to do in the shortest possible time to guarantee -- what is a special and productive to italy. >> after two major earthquakes in the past nine days, the feeling is here that the earth still has not settled. there was a major aftershock some hours ago, and going into the night, everybody will be braced for the possibility of more aftershocks. bbc news, in northern italy. >> you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come, policy in the middle east. israel is accused of ethnic cleansing as it knocks down palestinian homes and businesses

that they say were built illegally. as china's economy continues to thrive, so does the building boom. cities such as beijing are now attracting the top architects. some believe china is sacrificing too much of its heritage. we have a report. >> chinese cities are constantly changing. as this economy has boomed, its guidelines have -- its skylines have soared. here is the latest offering, a futuristic offers -- office building symbolizing the new beijing. more than half of the old beijing neighborhoods have been demolished to make way for office buildings, shopping malls, and apartment blocks. this is the battleground for china, and in the last decade,

the cities have been transformed all in the name of modernization, but now, people are saying that more must be done to protect the country's past. this is the latest areas slated for demolition. -- area slated for demolition. this man has documented the destruction of all the beijing. >> beijing is losing its soul. this was a city of history. we will have no culture left. >> but there are pockets of preservation. this traditional beijing alleyway is now a major tourist draw. "we like it here," she says. "we do not have anything like it." for beijing, it is about finding a balance between the old and

the new. bbc news, beijing. >> conflict is a fact of life in the occupied west bank, areas where israel maintains a presence, stretching to building control. the united nations says there has been a big increase in the number of palestinian homes demolished by israeli forces. israel says they are merely enforcing planning regulations. we have this report. >> this is what palestinians have called ethnic cleansing, demolitions and evictions carried out by israel in the occupied west bank. here in a tiny village in january of this year. "are you not scared that god will punish you for this," the

woman cried. palestinians were forced from their hamas last year. in most cases, israel said they failed to get permits to build. life is pretty basic. with homes cut into the rocks. but the families are threatened with eviction. the israeli army once an area for a firing zone. -- wants the area. one man says the israeli bulldozers will have to bury him alive if they come here. but some have already lost their livelihood. this was a palestinian restaurant near bethlehem. a few days after israeli forces flattened it earlier this month, the owner showed me what was left. 12 years? >> yes. >> and now?

finished. >> yes. >> the israeli government says he did not have a permit. >> i do know and other countries, people build restaurants without the proper authorization. bureaucracy takes its time, and after a few years -- their business. >> israel says it is demolishing some illegal businesses put up by jews, but what is infuriating is while it is impossible for them to build on land like this, the settlements continue to grow, and in just about every other country apart from israel, that is illegal under international law. the israeli settlement construction and demolition of palestinian homes is happening on land where the palestinians and the is really leadership have said they want to build

eight future state of palestine, a state that many believe is becoming increasingly unlikely -- leadership have said they want to build a future state of palestine. >> practicing heart stopping trips. it is not skateboarders we are talking about. in later years, extreme unicycling has increased, with some devoted in canada. we look at how this curious board caught one man's eye. >> my name is -- and we are here in montreal. i am an extreme unicyclist. [cheers and applause]

so i started this 10 years ago in school. they were doing service activities, and i picked unicycling, and then years later, i started doing it in an extreme way, and i realized i was not the only one doing it. i looked on the internet and found videos, and that is how i got into it. it started in the circus about 100 years ago, and in the late 1970's, people started to pick it up in the mountains and doing trials, jumping. i do more street riding, being creative with what is around us in the city. twisting, slipping, spinning.

we have areas like montreal and quebec. we can exchange tapes. a lot of the people today are on that website and how they heard about it. unicycling has taken me to new zealand first and then to san francisco, to l.a. in madison, wisconsin, a match to the world record -- i matched the world record. it was beaten again by the same guy, but i hope to go even further. in the future, really doing it

for fun. it is new and young. you can still in the and tricks. we can be creative. -- we can still in valtrex. -- still invent tricks. it is a great feeling. >> pretty wild. and at an auction in hong kong, this pink diamond, known as the martian diamond, it sold for more than twice what was expectant. this brings our program to a close. if you like to reach me and most of our bbc team, you can find us on twitter. for all of us here at "bbc world news america," thanks for watching. see you tomorrow.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business, offering specialized solutions and capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you?

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